Food cooker



FOOD COOKER Filed Nov. 18, 1946 Z6 2@ 50 '75 ZZ 37 IT-: Z3 1N V EN TOR.

.46 EWMW@ 20 m, ,7, 295, 'H

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 5, 1,950

-fpN-1TED STATE l FOOD CooKER Thomas H. Payne, Los Angeles, Calif. Application November 18, 1946, Serial No. 710,704,

Thisfinvention relates to food cookers ,and more particularlyto pressure cookers for Arapid and eiticient` cooking of various Aitems of food requiring browning;

. The primary object of the present invention is to provide a cooker in which food is cooked by'both steam and cooking o-il and wherein Ithe sequence of the cooking steps can be optionally performed to` cook rst with either the steam or the oil and then with the other medium.

Another object of the invention is yto provide a cookerof the character indicated embodying means effective to conduct cooking oil to food being cooked, to build up steam pressure about the food; to drive said oil to a storage reservoir under pressure of the steam, and to retain the oil in said reservoir until again needed whereby rapid and eicient cooking is accomplished.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cooker'in which, optionally, food can be rst brownedjand then pressure cooked or iirst pressure 4cooked and then browned. Chicken and other fowl are-examples of food cooked by the Lrst mentioned method. French fried potatoes is an example of f ood cooked by the other method. A further object of the invention is to provide 7 claims. (C1. 12s-ssn) mounted in the body, connection means I3 between the reservoir II4 and thepot I2, pressure relief means l4 for the pot, a food container l5 removably mounted in the-pot, means IE5v for heating the pot, and a Ventil for the heating means.

The housing IIl comprises a generally rectangular enclosed frame having a bottom wall I8,

a substantially parallel top wall I9, a front end wall 2B, 'and side walls` 22.V 'The rear ofthe housing is formed with an upper extension which comprises the reservoir I I. The latter has a bottom wall 23, front and rear walls 24,` and side walls which are extensions of the walls 22. -A suitable loose-fitting removable cover 25a is 'provided for the open top of the reservoir I'I.

The top wall I9 is formed with a flanged open- `ing 26 for the pressure cooking :pot I2 and the front end wall 20 has an opening 2l closed by -a door 28 to give access to the heating means I6.

The pressure cooking pot I2 comprises a generally cylindrical vessel 29 having a domed bottom wall 29a residing mainly within the housing I0 and having an upper open extension above the top wall I9 of said housing. A cover 3Bis pro- 'fvided for the vessel 29 and is hinged at 3I to' a a nov1', ,and improved deep fat frying cooker of the type indicated which embodies novel pressure relievingmeans of simple and improved form.

My invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient inY use-easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general "superiority and serviceability.

Thesinvention also comprises novel details-of construction and novel `combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the followingV description. However, the drawings merely show and the -following description merely describes one emwall of the reservoir IVI to be swing'able to and from a closed position over the vessel 29. Suitable gasket means 32 is provided to effect sealing of the interior of the pot and releasable locking means such as the lock dogs 33 are provided bodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings,- like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partly broken, of a food cooker embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view as taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is'a further enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. l. The food cooker which is illustrated comprises, generally, laf-housingY I0 which embodies a cookvlng-oil reservoir Ilya pressure cooking pot I2 to hold the cover 30 in closed position over the vessel against the force of internal pressure in the latter. Y

' The connection I3 comprises suitable piping 34 extending from one' wall 25 somewhat above the reservoir lbottom 23 angularly downward through therelated housing wall 22 and into the vessel 29 at 34a. A valve35 in the lpiping controls i'low therethrough. An extension 3B of said piping is connected to a drain cock 31. A drain connection 38 is also provided from the bottom of the vessel 29 to said drain cock.

The pressure relief means I4 is carried by the pot cover 3IJ` and consists of a tubular extension 39, anV orifice plate 40, a5 ball 4I gravitationally closing the orifice in plate 40, a rotatable sleeve 42 telescopically engaged over the' extension .39 and having a perforated upper end 43, registerable openings 44V in the tubular lextension and sleeve, and a handle 45 for rotating the sleeve Y withv respect to vthe extension for obtaining -the degree of registration desired of the openings -44. "Theorice plate 40 is secured .to the sleeve control the blow-off pressure of the relief means. With the openings 44 out of register, it is obvious that pressure is retained in the pot I2 until the same builds up to a degree suiiiciently great to unseat the ball 4I whereupon said pressure is relieved through the perforated end d3. By varying the alignment between openings 44, the pressure in the pot I2 can be controlled. Should the orifice in plate 4U become clogged, the pressure will lift `the sleeve 42 and vent through the openings 44.

The food container I5 simply consists of a generally cylindrical basket suitably supported within the vessel 29 and aords simple andconvenient means for placing items; of food into the said vessel and for conveniently removing the same.

The heating means I6 may be either electrical or gas. The latter is shown in the drawing fand comprises a pair of tubes 46 placed side by side below .the connection 34a `and extending horil'zontally through the vessel 29 above the bottom thereof. Within ,each tube there is placed a burner 41, the burners being commonly connected to a gas line -48 extending laterally through the housing I along the rear portion thereof. The ends ofthe tubes 46 terminate adjacent the opening 21 in the housing Wall 2U so thatthey may be ignited. In a conventionalmanner, a pilot lighter-'other ignition means may be provided.

The -vent II is shown as a Vattened conduit Mic connected to the :rearends of the tubes `6.6 fand extending upwardly along the rear wall .24 to terminate near the top lof the cooker. The heated .gasses passing through the vent serve to vWarm :theoil in the reservoir H.

"The cooker is also provided with a sight gauge `49 'for indicating the .-level of oil in the vessel 2TH; with a-thermostat 50 for controlling the temperature of the oil in vsaid'vessel; with a `handle :I whereby the cover 30 is lifted; and with .a `:pressure gauge 52 for indicating the pressure in .thepot I2.

Asherein-before indicated, two-cooking methods :may be accomplished by the instant cooker. For

cooking chickens, the basket I 5 is Vsuitably .loaded with the fowls and placed finthe vessel 29. The cover '30 is held open, thevalve 35 opened to drain the cooking oil from the reservoir VII into the cooking pot I2, and the burners ignited. When the contents of the basket have been suitably browned, :the cover is closed. The cooking proceeds and steam pressure builds up inthe-pot I2 above the level of the oil therein until `said :pressure becomes effective to -d-rivethe oil `from the pot/through the connection ymeans I3 -i-nto the reservoir II. YThis steam vpressure will empty the vessel 2,9 of oil only to the point of the connection 34dl and oil will remain in the bottom -of -thepot to cover the heating means I5v at all times.

The valve 3-5 -is thenclosedandv the cooking continues until the contents of the basket I5 are cooked. ',Ihus, the oil rst browns the chickens orother food items i-n the pot and steam Yresult-V For other foods such as French fried potatoes, the oil is held in the reservoir until the food is first steam-pressure cooked. The pressure is then relieved and the oil drained into the vessel 29. The cooking continues until the pressure again builds up to a degree suicient to drive the oil back into the reservoir. The food will then be nicely browned and thoroughly cooked.

The pot I2 and the reservoir II are quickly drained by opening valve 35and cock 31 and such sludge `asremains in the-.bottom vof said reservoir can then be readily removed by first removing the cover 25a. 'The vessel 29 is also easily cleaned and, vif desired, the piping 34 can be flushed out toremove solid matter. A drain cock 55 is provided for removing the accumulation of sludge from the bottom of Athe reservoir II as an aid to cleaning 'the latter.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, Vthe .constructionia of course, subject Ato-modifications without departing from the spirit and scopeof my Zinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to restrict myself to 'the particular form of construction illustrated `and described, but desire Ato avail myself .of .all modifications that Vmay fall vwithin the scope of .the appended claims.

VHaving .thus described my vinventionyY what 1I claim and desire to v secure byLetters'Pa'tentis:

1. A food cooker comprising a pressure sealed cooking pot, .an .open reservoir for cooking oil `mainly.above the .upper portion oisaid pot, means for heating the pot to .generate steam pressure resulting .from .the .moisturein the ,food 'being cookedaconnection from the not tothe reservoir .for `conducting .cooking .oil ,displaced .bythe pressure in thepot into Vthe reservoir, saidconnection extending ,between a .point of .the ipot below the reservoir and the .lower por-.tion of-.the reservoir .and a Valve .in :said connection to retain .the oil sodisplaced into .the reservoir.

2. In -a cooker -of .the character described, .a ypressure sealed pot, `means vforv heating ,said :pot extending therethrough, anopen cooking oil reservoir -locatedto be mainly vabovesaid pot, a flow connection between the pot and the reservoir whereby cookingoil .passes from .the latter to the former graVita-tionalllyand passes from the former to the latter .under pressure in :theformen said Iconnection extending between a point of the pot below theY reservoir gand the lowerportion of the reservoir and mea-ns for controlling said flow connection. Y v Y v- 3. In cooker of the character described, va pressure sealed pot, means for heating said pot extending therethrough, means for venting the eating mea-ns, an open cooking cile reservoir `located to bea-mainly above'. said p.ot,a flow connectionbetwee-n the pot and the reservoir :whereby cookingoil passes from the latter -to the-former gravitationally and passes from the -former -to the latter under pressure in the` former, said connection extending between -a point of the pot below 'the reservoir and :the .lower portion of the reservoir and mean-s for controlling said .flow connection.

4. In a cooker of the character described, a pressure scaled pct, vmeans `for relieving the pressure in the pot bo.t-h-.automatically and manually, means for heating said pot extending therethrough, an. open-cooking oilfreservoir located to be mainly above saidzpot, a, ,flow connectionbetwee-nfthe pot :and the reservoir whereby cooking oilpasses yfrom :the latter tothe former grav-ital tionally and passes yfrom the former tothelatter under pressure in the former, said connection extending between a point of the pot below the reservoir andthe lower portion of the reservoir and means for controlling said flow connection.

5. In a cooker of the character described, a pressure sealed pot, means for heating said pot extending therethrough, an open cooking oil reservoir located to be mainly above said pot, a flow connection between the pot and the reservoir lwhereby cooking oil passes from the latter to the former gravitationally and passes from the former to the latter under pressure in the former, means for controlling said flow connection, said connection extending between a point of the pot below the reservoir and the lower portion of the reservoir and means for draining both the reservoir and the pot.

6. In a cooker of the character described, a pressure sealed pot, means for heating said pot extending therethrough, an open cooking oil reservoir located to be mainly above said pot, a iiow connection between the pot and the reservoir whereby cooking oil passes from the latter to the former gravitationally and passes from the former to the latter under pressure in the former, said connection extending between a point of the pot below the reservoir and the lower portion of the reservoir, means for controlling said ow connection, and means for draining both the reservoir and the pot, said latter means comprising a drain cock, a connection from the flow connection to said cock, and a connection from the pot to said cock.

7. A food cooker comprising a pressure-sealed cooking pot, means for supporting said pot for the application of heat thereto, an open cooking oil reservoir mainly above the upper portion of the apot, a manually controlled flow connection between the reservoir and the pot, said connection extending between a point of the pot below the reservoir and the lower portion of the reservoir and pressure retaining relief means carried. by the pot and operable to control the flow of oil in said flow connection between the reservoir and the pot.

THOMAS H. PAYNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 601,501 Culver Mar. 29, 1898 703,269 Hutchings June 24, 1902 830,106 Schreidt Sept. 4, 1906 1,007,999 White Nov. 7, 1911 1,393,763 Demuth Oct. 18, 1921 2,088,462 Buffum July 27, 1937 2,204,467 Beatson June 11, 1940 2,287,396 Roth June 23, 1942 2,428,483 Wittenberg Oct. 7, 1947 2,431,753 Holderle et a1 Dec. 2, 1947 

